Chapter 9 -- The Nineties C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conferences The second Province-wide initiation was held at the C. Rodger Wilson Leadership on November 8, 1996. The Englewood-Teaneck Alumni Chapter at Romapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey hosted the conference. In preparation for the initiation ceremony, Northeastern Polemarch Dennis T Golden, held a meeting on October 26, 1996, at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, New Jersey. All undergraduate chapters wishing to initiate new brothers at the C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conference were required to participate in the process. Alumni chapters were allowed to conduct their intake programs with the Province Wide Initiation or conduct them on an individual basis. After the initiation ceremony, the new brothers were required attend four weeks of trainingconducted bytheir individual chapters. Conference registration fees for individual brothers attending were $15 for undergraduates and $25 for alumni. Chapter registration fees, which covered all chapter officers, were $50 for undergraduate chapters and $225 for alumni chapters. In addition, undergraduate chapters were required to contribute $25 to support the Northeastern Province Scholarship Fund. During the rest of the 1990s, all C. Rodger Wilson Leadership Conferences followed this format. Northeastern Province Life Membership Brother Ben Ellis, past member of New BrunswickAlumni and immediate past Chairman of the Life Membership Committee, had a design approved bythe Board of Directors but the pin was never produced. In 1997, under the urging of the current chairman, Brother Baker, Province Polemarch Dennis T. Golden brought the idea to the Board of Directors to have a design commissioned. Senior. ProvinceVice Polemarch Michael Brewington sought out Brother Nathaniel Cromartie of the Newark (NJ)Alumni, a semi-professional artist and graphic designer, to create thedesignfor ourcurrent LifeMembership Pin. ThePin hasthreegreek letters,ka,representing the spelling of our Fraternity. The 10 circles below the Pin synonymouslyrepresent the 10 Founders of KappaAlpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the 10 geographical states that the Northeastern Province spans. The wording above the Greek letters reads Northeastern Province Life. In 1997, at the Northeastern Province Council held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the number of life membership slots was increased from 100 to 200 and the cost per life membership was increased from $200 to $300. By the end of 1997 the life membership roster reached 200.As of December 31, 1999 the life membership roster reached 228 by incorporating all of the vacancies of life members who had either transferred or entered the Chapter Invisible. The Life Membership Chairman is authorized to continue to issue Life Memberships as vacancies become available. 175
Chapter 9 -- The Nineties Chapters Chartered in the Nineties Fepruary 17, 1990 March 10, 1990 June 16, 1990 June 16, 1990 April 12, 1991 September 22, 1991 December 4, 1991 December 15, 1991 January 5, 1992 May 9, 1992 January 24, 1993 State CollegeAlumniAssociation QueensAlumni United Kingdom Alumni Nu Psi - University of Connecticut @ Storrs Xi Delta - Princeton University@ Central Islip Xi Kappa - Bucknell University Xi Gamma - Rowan University Xi Zeta - New York Institute of Technology Xi Eta - Mansfield University Xi Mu - Wesley University Xi Omicron - Long Island University / C. W. Post 176
STATE COLLEGEALUMNI ASSOCIATION Chartered February 17, 1990 177
QUEENSALUMNI Queens, New York Chartered March 10, 1990 Queens Alumni Hosts Activities and Events The Queens Alumni Chapter, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society, Down State Medical Center, and Jamaica Hospital, held its first health fair March 15. The event was hosted at Calvary Baptist Church in Jamaica Queens with blessings from Minister Kirby Spivey, III. Community residents attending the health fair had their blood pressures checked and their blood sugar levels measured. Informational pamphlets were distributed, and workshops were conducted on prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer. The chapter hosted VVS Flawless, a spring dance affair sponsored to raise funds for community service programs April 25. More than 1,000 patrons enjoyed the event at the Metronome Night Club. Music was provided by Kappa Maestros, including Byron Zulu Franklin, Michael Daddy Special Pinnock, and Will Banga Ramirez.Aslide show chronicled the chapter s events and programs, and a pair of diamond and gold earrings and tickets to the Nupe Kruise 2003 was given away. Members of the Queens Alumni Chapter have adopted St. John s Lutheran School of College Point, NY, as part of the Adopt-a-School Program. Under the leadership of Chris L. Brown, Director of Development at the school, chapter members supported many of the school s fund-raising events, including participating in the Box Tops for Education Pro gram. The chapter also donated books for the after-school program, contributed funds for the installation of a green house, participated in a men s cooking event, and supported the Fun Walk, a walk-a-thon which raised more than $8,000 for the school. The Queens Alumni Kappa Alpha Psi Foundation held its first Scholarship Luncheon May 10 at Calvary Baptist Church. Queens Alumni Polemarch Steven Chatman and Dr. Gerald Deas were the featured speakers. The theme for the luncheon was Building a Bridge to the Future. Two college- bound male students received $1,000 scholarships. Two students also received the first Mu Omicron (SUNY / College at Old Westbury) Fellowship Award. A special contribution was presented to Mr. Anthony Heyliger, Jr., who is an international sports ambassador with the Up with People group. In total, $3,200 was awarded to five young men. The Scholarship Committee consisted of David Thompson, Chairman; Dewey Smalls, Thierry Cazeau, Yves Mompoint, Chris Brown,Anthony Heyliger, Kenny Robinson, and Nana YawAdu Sarkodie. Vigilio Soler and Larry White also assisted. On May 17, the Queens Alumni Chapter hosted a kickoff event for its Guide Right Young Achievers Mentoring Program, a collaborative effort between the chapter and Project PRIZE, a Liberty Partnership Program, which provides enrichment to youth in the Queens community. To prepare for their roles as mentors, chapter members attended workshops led by Mentoring USA. The program officially began in September with 12 male students in grades 6-10. Polemarch Steven Chatman, Caleb Terry, Keith Richards, and Leroy Clarke 178
participated in the training and are serving as mentors. Following the kickoff event, Clarke, Richards, and Bryant Fields, Yves Mompoint, Larry White, and Nana Yaw Adu Sarkodie joined past Polemarch Alvin Knight to participate in a career day for students in Project PRIZE. The Queens Alumni Chapter held its second annual Salute toachievers reclamation event August 12. The event was hosted by Omar Morris, Co-Chairman of the Guide Right Committee. Daniel Brown, Steven Chatman, ThierryCazeau, Leroy Clarke, Chris Brown, Bryant Fields, Dion Baccus, and Larry White planned the event, which was attended by more than 200 members and guests at the plush Manhattan restaurant E toile. Honored for outstanding achievements was Norman St. George, Esq., for civil Criminal law and public service; Alonzo Adams for art; Jonathan Hicks for journalism; Raven Cake man Dennis as a confectioner and entrepreneur; Mark Tatum as Senior Director and Group Manager of Marketing Partner ships for the National Basketball Association; and Fernando Ramirez, Esq., for entertainment and business law. Many residents of New York, Canada, and other parts of the northeastern United States experienced a major power blackout August 14, but the Queens Alumni Chapter proceeded with its annual yacht cruise, NupeTOPIA. More than 450 revelers enjoyed the midnight event, which featured a disk jockey, 11 member band, and a Caribbean buffet as the yacht sailed around Manhattan Island. Thierry Cazeau chaired the event. He was assisted by Bryant Fields and LeroyClarke. Dan Brown chairs the QueensAlumni Foundation, which received benefits from the event. Jean-Richard Chery, a member of the Queens Alumni Chapter, recently completed a highly prized engineering/programming internship with the MTA New York City Transit Authority. Chery graduated from St. John s University in 1996 with a B.S. in psychology and enrolled at DeVry University in 2001 to pursue a second bachelor s degree in engineering. He has been named to the President s List, the Dean s List and holds a 3.64 grade point average. Chery is also a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society Two members of the Queens Alumni Chapter were recently honored for community service. On October 26, AnthonyHeyliger received the Cub Scouts District MeritAward for the Northeast District. He has been the Scoutmaster of local Cub Scout Pack 354, Jamaica, NY for several years. Jean-Richard Cherry Completed Internship QUEENS ALUMNI Heyligar is the Chapter s Keeper of Exchequer and Silhouette Chairman. The Queens Alumni Chapter supports Pack 354. Polemarch Steve Chatman recently received a President s Volunteer Service Award from the White House. The award was presented to Chatman for his community service work, involvement, and contributions. He was nominated byhis employer,timewarner Cable, of NewYork City. Chatman is a charter member of the QueensAlumni Chapter and a Guide Right mentor. 179
UNITED KINGDOM ALUMNI Chartered June 16, 1990 180
NU PSI University OF Connecticut @ Storrs Chartered June 16, 1990 181
XI DELTA Princeton University Chartered April 12, 1991 182
XI KAPPA Bucknell University Chartered September 22, 1991 History of Xi Kappa Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. had been very well-known among members of the black community at Bucknell University, yet a chapter did not exist there. One young man, Alvin McCoy III, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, had a burning desire within his heart to join the bond of Kappa. As a child he dreamed that one day he would be one of the distinguished men to enter the red and white house, the house of Baltimore alumni, across the street from the 7-11. He began his efforts of reaching his goal upon his arrival at Bucknell in 1986. He wrote letters to the International Headquarters, Brother Herman B. Thomas (then the Vice-Polemarch of the Northeastern Province) and many other members of our noble clan in hopes that one day his dreams would come true.asalvin worked, interest grew on Bucknell s campus among the Black men. The number grew as high as eight interested individuals. After a great amount of persistence and perseverance, Alvin McCoy along with three other young men began their journey into Kappa land. On April 28, 1989 Michael Gordon MacKay, a freshman lacrosse player majoring in engineering from Baltimore, Maryland, Alvin McCoy III, a junior, who played football and majored in economics and history, Robert Elliot Chambers, Jr., a sophomore from Baltimore, Maryland majoring in history and sociology with a concentration in legal studies and Norman Scott Gunn, a sophomore from Great Barrington. Massachusetts majoring in economics, reached the glorified land of Kappa. These men were initiated into the Mu Beta Chapter and Bucknell University first became exposed to the wearers of the crimson and cream. Kappa Alpha Psi was on Bucknell s campus, yet a chapter was still not established. The brothers then quickly began to focus on three things: (1.) attracting interest at Bucknell to sustain the organization; (2.) becoming recognized as an organization by Bucknell University; and (3.) attaining a national charter. These four neophytes worked very hard to promote the organization by doing various programs. On March 17, 1990, they fulfilled their first goal by initiating two new members into the bond. In September 22, 1991, the International Headquarters of Kappa Alpha Psi issued the letters Xi Kappa to the brothers at Bucknell. And on February 22, 1992, Brother MacKay, the only remaining charter member on campus at the time, received the charter ironically from Brother Thomas in Harrisburg, PA. In November of 1991, the Xi Kappa Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. became officially recognized by the Interfraternity Council and the Bucknell University hierarchy. Those four young stalwarts, now known as the charter members of the Xi Kappa Chapter, have led by their example. Brother MacKay graduated from Bucknell in 1992. At graduation, he was the recipient of the BisonAward for dedicated service to the Bucknell community. He then went on to work towards completing his MBA at the Universityof Pittsburgh. He accepted a job offer as a systems analyst for Ford Motor Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brother McCoy, 183
XI KAPPA upon his graduation in 1990, became an employee of the Proctor and Gamble companies. He then obtained a fellowship, which allowed him to pursue his MBA from the Fuqua Graduate School of Business at Duke University. Now Brother McCoy is self-employed as a financial consultant and a business investor. Brother Chambers, a member of the graduating class of 1991, enrolled in Law School at the University of Pittsburgh. Brother Gunn, a classmate of Brother Chambers, pursued his career in law at Duke University. Four years after their crossing of the burning sands, the Xi Kappa charter members have seen ten brothers enter the Mu Beta Expansion Colony/Xi Kappa Chapter. We would first like to thank these pioneers for their hard work in bringing Kappa to Bucknell and secondlyfor living up to the ideas of what Kappamen are supposed to be. Theyhave been role models for all of us who have followed them and for many others. From all of the brothers of the Xi Kappa Chapter, we would like to thank the charter members for their perseverance and vision in allowing us to become part of the noble clan of KappaAlpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. 184
XI GAMMA Rowan University Chartered December 4, 1991 Xi Gamma Chapter Participates In World Week Members of the Xi Gamma Chapter participated in the World Week celebration at Rutgers University-Camden April 7, 2003. Representing Ireland, chapter members rented costumes, handed out information packets, and served the traditional Irish dish of corned beef and cabbage. The Kappa Table received compliments from several campus students and administrators. Members also performed a party walk to the music of a live Caribbean band during the event. Members Of Xi Gamma Chapter 2003 185
XI ZETA New York Institute of Technology Chartered December 15, 1991 186
XI ETA Mansfield University Chartered January 5, 1992 187
XI MU Wesley University Chartered May 9, 1992 History of Xi Mu On October 9, 1991, at the request of an interest group at Wesley College, Calvin C. Brooks, a junior, wrote a letter to the International Headquarters of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity seeking information about establishing a Kappa chapter at Wesley College. The Executive Secretary, Dr. W. Ted Smith, referred the group to Dr. McKinley Wardlaw, Jr., then Polemarch of Dover Alumni Chapter and charter member of Delta Theta Chapter at the Pennsylvania State University. The Dover Alumni Chapter, coordinated with the Dean, took the group under its wings and guided them through the application process. On March 5, 1992 the Dover Alumni Chapter initiated eight students from Wesley College into the Beta Sigma Chapter at Delaware State University. At that time the Beta Sigma Chapter was not certified to conduct an initiation. The new brothers were Aaron M. Bowers, Calvin C. Brooks, Steven A. Eady, Jonathan K. Hardy, Robert C. Holmes, Antione L Oakley, Derwin A. Pritchett and Jermaine L. Smith. Charter Members of Xi Mu Chapter 1992 An Expansion Group was formed at Wesley College with Calvin C. Brooks as President and Jonathan K. Hardy as Secretary. On April 30, 1992, the Grand Chapter was petitioned and on May 22, 1992, the petition to establish a chapter at Wesley College in Dover, Delaware was approved by the Grand Board of Directors. The Xi Mu Chapter officially received its charter on Sept. 9, 1992. Calvin C. Brooks was the first Polemarch and upon the recommendation of Dr. McKinley Wardlaw, Jr., Province Polemarch Herman B. Thomas appointed Dr. Berlin N. Hollingsworth of Dover Alumni as the first chapter advisor. All of the starters on the Wesley College basketball team were Kappas and they were division champions in 1993 and 1994. 188
XI OMICRON Long Island University - C. W. Post Chartered Janurary 24, 1993 189